The Black Stars by Dan Krokos Read Free Book Online Page B

It was so quiet Mason could hear himself breathing. His eyes roamed over the students, who were now facing forward, completely still.
    â€œWelcome!” the gray Rhadgast said to them. “I am Master Zin, leader of our humble school.” He gestured grandly at the Tremist—no, people. They were all people here, and Mason had to start thinking that way. Tremist were not really aliens so much as cousins.
    Master Zin swept his hand toward the Rhadgast on his right. “This is Master Shem, leader of the Bloods.” He made the same gesture to the man on his left. “And this is Master Rayasu, leader of the Stones.”
    Master Rayasu, a man paler than any Tremist Mason had seen so far, was drilling holes in Mason with his eyes. He had a vertical blue scar on his forehead, which matched his bluish hair.
    â€œThank—” Mason’s throat was so dry the syllable turned to dust. He swallowed hard. “Thanks.”
    â€œThank you, sir,” Tom added, elbowing Mason in the side.
    Master Zin nodded, seeming pleased, though his smile was hard to see across the room. He spoke to everyone now: “These two humans have come to train at our school. They have been afforded all the rights … and responsi bilities  … of a normal student. Is that understood?”
    â€œYes, Master Zin,” everyone replied in unison. Even the teachers. Mason noticed older men and women sitting at the outer ends of the rows, clearly not students. “Now, with the addition of these two, plus two more who have come to train from halfway across Skars, we will have…” Master Zin trailed off as a Stone rhadjen stood up.
    It was a girl around Mason’s and Tom’s age, thirteen, if Mason had to guess. Her violet hair was done in two braids down her back. She looked over her shoulder at Mason and Tom, her eyes narrowed in disgust and hate.
    â€œYes, Lore?” Master Zin said with extreme patience. “You have something to share?”
    â€œI do,” Lore said, facing Master Zin. “It is well known that these two humans are responsible for the deaths of several Stones.”
    The words had barely left her lips before the room exploded into chatter again. They don’t exactly run a tight ship here, Mason thought. But he was proved wrong a second later, when Master Zin stomped his boot a second time, much harder, rocking the students in their seats. Tom actually took a step back from the wind. Mason’s ears were ringing.
    â€œI will not ask for silence a third time,” Master Zin said.
    The effect was immediate, as before. No one spoke or moved. Lore didn’t seem to know whether to sit or stay standing, so she just clasped her hands behind her back, then checked over her shoulder again, as if to make sure Mason and Tom weren’t sneaking up on her. They weren’t.
    â€œContinue, please, Lore, if you have some point to make,” Master Zin said from the front.
    â€œAs I was saying, Master, these humans are killers. They cannot be Stone. Not ever.”
    Mason almost expected chatter to break out a third time, but it seemed Master Zin’s threat was enough.
    Reckful was suddenly standing at Mason’s left. Mason glanced up at the only Tremist who had been kind to them so far, looking for some kind of direction.
    â€œMaster,” Reckful called out, giving a slight bow. “I offer to take these two under my tutelage, as my personal squires. I will mentor them, and they will be Blood. I think that may be best for everyone.”
    Mason wanted that to happen very much. He felt a sudden rush of warmth for Reckful, who was still a stranger but willing to risk himself for the two humans. Mason shared a look with Tom, who appeared just as pleased.
    Please say yes, Tom whispered to himself.
    â€œReckful, you know that every student must choose his or her own path,” Master Zin said, and Mason’s heart sank into his lower abdomen. “If